It’s back to school time of year in California as many school districts get ready to begin the 2015-2016 school year. The state’s largest school district with over 650,000 students, the Los Angeles Unified School District, began classes on August 18th.

Many factors can impact the learning environment of a school, including its indoor air quality (IAQ). According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “Poor indoor air quality can impact the comfort and health of students and staff, which, in turn, can affect concentration, attendance, and student performance. In addition, if schools fail to respond promptly to poor IAQ, students and staff are at an increased risk of short-term health problems, such as fatigue and nausea, as well as long-term problems like asthma.”

Indoor air quality issues can be a concern in both aging buildings and even recently constructed or renovated schools. Some of the tell-tale signs that health complaints in a school may be indoor air quality related often include:

Health complaints associated with particular times of the day or week.

Other occupants in the same area experiencing similar problems.

Health complaints that end when the students or faculty leave the building and recur when they return.

The school has recently been renovated or refurnished.

Students or faculty have recently begun working with new or different materials or equipment at school.

LA Testing offers analytical services and all of the sampling supplies necessary to test for a wide range of allergens, asthma triggers, chemical pollutants and respiratory irritants. They have also sponsored an educational video about IAQ issues in schools that can be seen at: http://youtu.be/8ktQGXR5xPA.

LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other substances. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Garden Grove, San Leandro and San Diego.